Ben Rhydding’s men have made a fine start to their season by winning the Yorkshire Cup Coaches, Demy Dowley and Jono McMillan have been working the players hard over the summer and the team have hit the ground running.
The pool matches saw Rhydding play fluid and slick hockey, changing their shape effortlessly to control the opposition.
Some well rehearsed corners came up trumps with Will Musgrave and George Sweeting converting to give their side a 2-1 victory against Chapeltown.
Leeds caved in 3-1 to Rhydding after an explosive second half.
Harry Sherlock set Musgrave up for the first and Tim Zillessen smashed the second.
The final goal was a text book counter attack after defending a corner, finished off neatly by Josh Sykes.
Ali Jordan put in a set of impressive performances both technically and physically and seemed to have a bottomless pit of energy.
Elliot Dowley ripped the opposition apart relentlessly and Neil Sugden just seems to get better with age.
Sykes was strong in the middle of the pitch and proved to be superior to every opponent he faced.
Sixteen-year-old Cam Herbert proved why he has been selected as Dave Carter’s understudy and made many telling saves in difficult situations.
The connection between Connor Dowley and newcomer, Andy Clemerson affected the whole team dramatically and the ability to play flowing, hockey came directly from them. Clemerson, rightly went on to win ‘Player of the Tournament’ after an immaculate day’s work.
The semi-final against Leeds University was more like the final. A disallowed goal followed by a breakaway to take the University ahead could have seen heads go down but skipper Dave Exley led by example and controlled them from the back, setting an example throughout and ensuring concentration and intensity continued to the final painful minutes of the competition.
Goals from George Sweeting and Connor Dowley were the result of patient but pacy passing as Chapeltown were defeated 2-0 in the final..
Rhydding now face their first league game after promotion into the North Premier this Saturday at home to Brooklands at 3pm.
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